Cosplay takes centre stage at Animenia Abu Dhabi

The new five-day event on Saadiyat Island is celebrating all things anime

Sara Abdul Shakour in cosplay at Animenia Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Fans dressed as Vampire Miku and Kokomi H during Animenia

Sristhi Gupta and Dhaval Rambhia with their purchases from the Naruto store

Adriana S and Lisha S cosplaying at Animenia Abu Dhabi

Fatma Ahmad and Mohd Al Hady from AD Anime Club

Ali Merhi dressed up for the event

A guest cosplays as Kokomi H from Genshin Impact

Varvara Doronina cosplays as Raya Aber from A Perfect World

Cosplayers attend Animenia Abu Dhabi

A guest cosplays as Sara from Genshin Impact

Anime fans and cosplayers flocked to Manarat Al Saadiyat for the first Animenia Abu Dhabi, a five-day event dedicated to all things anime.

Enthusiasts arrived dressed to impress, donning costumes of famous anime characters. While many explored the diverse themed zones, others went all out to compete in the cosplay contests, showcasing their dedication and creativity.

Animenia has three large zones dedicated to popular Anime shows Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen and Naruto. Fans dressed as characters from these series enjoyed taking pictures in surroundings befitting their attires, allowing for an immersive experience with the shows they love.

Fans were also able to make use of the different merchandise shops in each zone that sell things such as toys, collectable figures and memorabilia related to the anime shows. Many items are special or limited-edition, making it hard to pass up for the most dedicated fans and collectors.

Visitors to the festival were also treated to concerts on the venue’s stage with songs performed from popular anime series by their original singers. Those who missed the concert on Friday can look forward to a second performance on Saturday at 7pm.

Animenia runs until Sunday at Manarat Al Saadiyat; tickets are Dh125